Saturday, 15 September 2012

London Metropolitan University

National Press release
The Green Party is opposed to the action of the UK Border Agency in
removing the right of London Metropolitan University to accept foreign
students(1). Stuart Jeffery, Policy Coordinator on the Green Party
National Executive, comments:
“The Government’s action in preventing London Metropolitan University
from taking foreign students will rebound negatively upon the UK’s
universities. Because the Government has made getting a visa far more
difficult by creating a demanding process, foreign student visa
applications have already dropped 21% June 2011-June 2012 (2). London
Met’s 2700 foreign students are now struggling to find places to start
or to continue studying. The Government has made Universities very
dependent upon foreign student income: it is currently about 32% of
University income from fees(3).
“The Green Party supports the calls for an amnesty for the students
affected. It is also essential that foreign students be taken out of the
migration statistics since they do not have permanent right to remain
in this country.
“This case is already being reported abroad (4). There can be little
doubt that potential foreign students, worth about £12.5 billion to the
UK economy, will be deterred from applying to the UK in future. The
Green Party is concerned about the viability of courses and the impact
upon jobs in universities sector. Universities have neither the staff
nor the resources to act as miniature versions of the UK Border Agency,
which is constantly changing rules it uses. The UK should aspire to be a
world leader in education, yet this atrocious move will severely damage
our international reputation."